50 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Mary Adelaide Brakenridge
Spectators at Dressage in the Rockies were seeing
spots as a horse of a different color made a big
impression. Lakota Lace, an 11-year-old Appaloosa/
Percheron/Quarter Horse gelding, racked up top
results in the Intermediaire I during the show at the
Colorado Horse Park in August.
It was the first time for Lakota Lace at that level,
and he made it look easy. He won the FEI High
Percentage Championship on the first day of the show
with a score of 68.816 percent, and he came back for
the Reserve Championship the next day with 67.895
percent. Trainer Shannon Dahmer competed him for
his owner, Janet Wingate of Denver, Colorado.
Lakota Lace’s path to the FEI levels is as unusual
as his spots. His sire got loose and impregnated his
dam, who then was sold to a new owner who didn’t
know the mare was carrying a foal. The result of that
mishap was better than anything that could have been
planned by his connections, who are grateful to have
stumbled upon this one-of-a-kind dressage horse.
Lakota Lace came along at just the right time for his
owner, Janet, who saw an ad for him while searching
for an Appaloosa to follow in the footsteps of one she
had owned and loved. He was 3 years old at the time.
“I am partial to Appaloosas because I had a really
nice one,” Janet explained. “So I was trying to replace
him, and I never thought I could, because he was
really special. But I did! He was an accident, and look
what happened.”
Just under two years ago, Janet put Lakota Lace
in training with Shannon, who is based out of Stellar
Stables in Parker, Colorado. Since then, he has
blossomed into a strong competitor at the small tour
level, and Shannon has her eyes on an eventual move
up to Grand Prix.
Lakota Lace has proven to be a quick study. Only
a year ago, he was competing at First Level with
Janet and had not started flying changes yet. Last
September, while Janet was out of town, Shannon decided to play
around with introducing changes.
“I went on vacation, and Shannon called me and said, ‘We’re
doing four-tempis!’” Janet recalled. “I said, ‘I don’t believe it!’”
Janet returned to see that Lakota Lace had mastered his
four-tempis, and now he has added the rest of the small tour
movements to his rapidly expanding repertoire.
“He’s a really quick learner — and he thinks very highly of
himself,” Shannon laughed. “He’s really good at collection, which
comes easily for him. He loves to work and always comes out
ready to go. And he’s super comfortable and easy to ride.”
After successful outings at Prix St. Georges earlier this year
in California and at the Colorado Horse Park’s High Prairie
Dressage I and II, Shannon chose to give Intermediaire I a try at
Dressage in the Rockies, which is managed by Glenda McElroy
of Cornerstone Event Management. The decision paid off, as the
pair earned qualifying scores at that level for the Great American/
USDF Region 5 Dressage Championships, also at the Colorado
Horse Park.
Shannon said she always enjoys showing at the horse park.
“We really, really like the footing,” she commented. “The stalls are
nice, not like the small temporary stalls you get at some places,
and they have turnouts. They just keep improving it. I think it’s the
best facility to show at, and it keeps getting better and better.”
Wherever he goes, Lakota Lace earns new fans who are
enchanted by both his spots and his talent. His intelligence and
levelheadedness have helped him excel in the dressage arena,
and they have also made him a suitable mount for his owner, who
appreciates his great temperament.
“He has a good mind,” Janet said. “You can go a long way with
a good mind. I’m really lucky to have found him, and Shannon has
done a spectacular job with him.”
e
Dressage
Spotted at Dressage in the Rockies:
An “Accidental” Appaloosa
Lakota Lace and trainer Shannon Dahmer show off their style — and
Lakota’s spots — at the Colorado Horse Park’s Dressage in the Rockies
show.
Photo by Mary Adelaide Brakenridge/Phelps Media Group
